Can esophageal cancer be prevented?
Some of the risk factors that are associated with esophageal cancer like, cigarette smoking are modifiable, while others like age and race are non-modifiable. You can do the following to decrease your risk of developing esophageal cancer.

Stop smoking and avoid excess use of alcohol
Since smoking a major risk factor for the development of esophageal cancer, stopping smoking avoiding excess alcohol use can markedly decrease your chance for the development of esophageal cancer.

Prompt treatment of diseases that may predispose to esophageal cancer
Prompt treatment of diseases which are know to cause increased risk of esophageal cancer like GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease), severe iron deficiency may decrease your chance of developing esophageal cancer.

Other life-style modifications
Since high fat diet increases the risk of esophageal cancer, decreasing the amount of fat in the diet may help to reduce the esophageal cancer risk. Avoidance of excessively hot fluids, and nitrosamine from your diet may decrease your risk of esophageal cancer. Make sure you eat lot of fruits and vegitables as this will decrease your risk of esophageal
cancer. Phyical activity and maintaining a healthy weight can also decrease your risk of esophageal cancer.

Screening for esophageal cancer
Screening (looking for disease before symptoms appear) for esophageal cancer is undertaken only when the patient has high risk developing esophageal cancer. Patients who have been diagnosed with Barretts esophagus may undergo screening endoscopy once in 2 to 3 years to detect further changes in the abnormal site. If further changes occur surgical removal of the abnormal part of the esophagus may be required.